An internal audit has revealed that the University of Colorado overpaid head football coach Deion Sanders by $50,000 after misclassifying the Alamo Bowl as a higher-tier bowl game, resulting in a net loss of $1.2 million on the bowl appearance.
The audit found that Sanders' contract entitled him to a $150,000 bonus for a non-New Year's Six bowl appearance and $200,000 for a New Year's Six game, but he was paid the higher figure due to the misclassification.
The same audit found that Sanders' assistant coaches and support staff were also overpaid by $71,333 for the same bowl game.
The audit report, dated June 4, 2026, recommended significant improvements to prevent similar overpayments in the future.
The university's athletic department has since announced plans to update its postseason pay policy and submit budgets for review before making spending decisions.
